First of all, there is no such thing as curses.  The Cubs haven't won a world series in 100 years because of a combination of bad luck and some ownership completely clueless as to how to win ball games.  Specifically PK Wrigley, although the Tribune hasn't been a lot better in this area until very recently.

But let's assume for a moment that curses do exist.  Let's assume that it is possible that there is some sort of supernatural force that is causing the bad luck that I mentioned earlier.

If so, it has nothing to do with Bill Sianis, a billy goat, or the 1945 World Series.

Let me first state that the information presented here is a distillation of an essay found on pages 192-193 of Glenn Stout and Richard Johnson's excellent history of the team The Cubs (Houghton Mifflin, 2007).

Bill Sianis was a greek immigrant who owned the Lincoln Tavern on 1855 West Madison Street, across the street from the Chicago Stadium. He was the type of Chicago character whom, if he didn't already exist, would have been invented by a famous Chicago newspaper writer like Finley Peter Dunne or Mike Royko.  (Royko did write about Sianis a lot, actually.)

Other than being a hangout for Chicago sportswriters covering games at the stadium, Sianis' Tavern was famous for his pet goat that he kept behind the bar--and sometimes in front of the bar.  He discovered that people came to his bar to see the goat.  When he got written up by the Board of Health for having an unsanitary goat in his establishment, he used his newspaper reporter friends to turn the case into a big local interest story, eventually resulting in the case being thrown out of court and the goat "paroled" into his care.  With the resulting publicity, business soared.

From the mid-1930s through World War II, Sianis rarely missed an opportunity to get his goat into the Chicago newspapers.  He grew a goatee and his patrons nicknamed him "Billy Goat."

When the Cubs improbably won the NL Pennant in 1945, Bill Sianis saw the World Series with the Tigers as another opportunity to get one of his pet goats (he had more than one by that time) into the newspapers and to promote his tavern.  He did, in fact, buy two tickets to Game Five of the World Series, one for him and one for his goat.  He put a big sign on the goat's back that read "WE GOT DETROIT'S GOAT."

The Cubs let Sianis and his goat into Wrigley Field that day, contrary to the myth.  They were allowed to parade on the field with the other fans and actually got to watch the beginning of the game together.  But the game was delayed by rain.  Wet goat does not smell nice.  Additionally, the goat eventually got a little spooked by 43,000 people and ran back onto the field.

Eventually, the Cubs realized that having a wet, smelly goat in the stands who was either running out onto the field or trying to eat the other fans things wasn't such a good idea.  Some ushers asked Sianis and his goat to leave.

Sianis gladly complied, but since this was a publicity stunt from the beginning, he was going to make sure that he got all the publicity he could out of his ejection.  He left loudly waving his two tickets, claiming he had every right to be there.  But before he left, the ushers who ejected him all had their photos taken with the goat.  Then they staged a photo where Sianis and his goat were at the turnstiles trying to get in, only to be blocked by an usher.

The next day, famed Chicago newspaperman Arch Ward made a mention of the incident with Sianis at the game in his column.  Business at the Lincoln Tavern boomed.

What's missing here?  Any mention of a curse.  Sianis never cursed the Cubs for his ejection.  Why would he?  He was a Cub fan and his customers were Cub fans.  If your whole point for being at the game was to get publicity for your tavern, why would you ever want to be linked to cursing your customer's favorite team?

After the Cubs lost Game Seven of the Series in Detroit, Sianis did send Phillip K. Wrigley a telegram that said "WHO SMELLS NOW?"  That got him another mention in the newspapers. That's the closest he ever came to a curse.

So where did the idea of the curse come from?  In 1966, some Chicago sportswriters, lamenting the state of this 100 loss team, wrote of a "hex" placed on the team and vaguely connected it to the publicity stunt of 1945, which they sort of vaguely remembered.  Bill Sianis was asked about it in 1967, and in an interview with the Chicago Tribune off-handedly said that he'd lifted the "hex" years ago.

Then came 1969.  Columnist David Condon did a series of columns on Sianis, now in his late 70s.  Sianis was still shilling his bar, which by this time had moved to its present location on Michigan Avenue and had been renamed "The Billy Goat Tavern."  In April, Sianis celebrated the Cubs team and talked about how he was lifting the curse.  Cub fans asked "What are you talking about?" as no one had ever heard of it.  But of course, business boomed again.

But when the Cubs started to tank in September, Sianis went running to Condon to explain how none of this was his fault, and that any curse that he had claimed earlier in the season had been lifted and that it was the Mets and not the Billy Goats that were ruining the season.  But Condon sensed he had a colorful story here, and throughout the end of the 1969 season and the subsequent off-season, Condon blamed the season on the "Billy Goat Curse."  Other newspapermen picked up on it, and a myth was born.

In the years since Sianis died, the Sianis family has kept alive this "curse" story because, you guessed it, it's good for business.  It's a part of the "lovable loser" mythology and as the Red Sox can also attest, made-up curses sell. By this time, the family probably even believes the curse actually happened.  The Billy Goat Tavern website certainly claims it as gospel now.

So when Dick Stockton or Joe Buck or whoever this post-season claims that the Cubs were cursed by a tavern owner whose goat was not let into the ballpark, you now know what a crock that is.  You've always known there is no such thing as curses.  Now you know there is now such thing as Billy Goat Curses.

So let's go out and win a World Series.

Congratulations to Jody Davis and the Boys of Daytona!  The Daytona Cubs won their first individual Florida State League Championship since 2000 tonight with a 7-3 beating of the Ft. Myers Miracle to take the series three games to one.

Starter Marcos Mateo was staked to a lead, but couldn't stay in the game long enough to pick up the win.  Mateo pitched only four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.  Mateo walked one and struck out three.

Mateo was relieved by first-round pick Andrew Cashner, and Cashner shut down the Miracle for 2.2 innings.  Cashner didn't allow a hit.  He struck out four (although one strikeout reached base on a wild pitch) and walked only one.  Cashner picked up the win in the clinching game.

Jayson Ruhlman didn't allow a run over 1.1 innings and Blake Parker pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to clinch the championship.

Daytona fell behind 1-0 in the second inning, but right fielder Yusuf Carter homered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game up with a solo shot.  Carter was 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice.

The only FSL All-Star for Daytona, center fielder Jim Adducci, pounded on Ft. Myers with a 2 for 3 effort with a solo home run.  He also put down a successful sac bunt.

Shortstop Darwin Barney has been on fire the last few weeks of the season, and tonight Barney was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI.  The first double was the eventual game winner and Barney was named player of the game.  Barney also scored once.

Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Thomas hit .483 in the series and was named MVP of the Championship series.

Third baseman Jonathan Mota went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Oh yeah. Steve Clevenger caught yet again and was 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

And yes, they played "GO CUBS GO" when the game ended.

The D-Cubs last won the Florida State League Championship in 2004, but that was a shared title with the Tampa Yankees as the Championship Series was cancelled because of Hurricane Ivan.  It's their first undisputed title since 2000.  Just for some reference, the star pitchers on that 2000 team were starters (yes, starter) Michael Wuertz and Ben Christensen.   Steve Smyth and Juan Cruz also pitched for the D-Cubs that season.

The hitting stars of that team were Hee-Seop Choi, David Kelton, Gary Johnson and Nate Frese.

It's just the Daytona Cubs wrap these days, and they just don't want their time in the spotlight to end.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs failed to win the FSL Championship tonight as they lost to the Fort Myers Miracle, 5-3.  They'll try again tomorrow.

The bad James Russell returned tonight as he got battered for five runs in 5.2 innings.  He gave up eight hits, including a pair of two-run home runs.  If you're a "glass is one-eighth full" type,  Russell didn't walk a batter.  He struck out three.

Jordan Latham pitched 2.1 innings of relief without allowing a hit or a run.  He did walk two, though, and struck out one.

Second baseman Tony Thomas has been hot throughout the playoffs and that continued tonight.  Thomas was 3 for 5 with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.  Thomas also scored twice and stole a base.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 5.  By the way, anyone else here remember the way that Jim Frey used to play Jody Davis every day, hardly ever giving him a break?  Jody's returning the favor as Clevenger has started behind the plate of every single game of the post-season so far.

Left fielder Ty Wright went 2 for 4 with a walk.  He did strike out with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth, though.

Shortstop Darwin Barney had a 2 for 4 game and scored a run.

The D-Cubs still lead the series two games to one and will try to finish out the series tomorrow night at home.

Did Santo say "NOOOOOOOOOO!" today?  I did.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs season ended today with a 16-5 loss to the Oklahoma RedHawks. Oklahoma takes the playoff series, three games to two.

The Chicago Cubs pitching woes filtered down to the I-Cubs today, because of injuries and call-up, Randy Wells had to start today on only three days rest.  Wells got knocked around for five runs over five innings, including two home runs.  Wells gave up three hits and three walks while striking out five.

The bullpen was just bad, as anyone could tell by looking at the final score.  Justin Berg got hammered for three runs in an inning, Ed Campusano gave up four runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning and Jesse Estrada topped things off by getting slammed by the RedHawks for four runs in the one inning he pitched. 

The I-Cubs were down 12-1 and 16-2 in this game before plating three garbage runs in the ninth inning.  Left fielder Andres Torres bookended two home runs today, hitting a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run blast in the ninth to account for four of Iowa's five runs.  He was 2 for 4 on the afternoon.

Right fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored.  Bobby Scales went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.

Center fielder Felix Pie was 2 for 4 with a triple and a stolen base.

Daytona Cubs

So only the D-Cubs are left standing and they took a commanding two games to none lead in the best-of-five FSL playoffs with a 9-1 thumping of the Fort Myers Miracle.

Jay Jackson pitched the Cubs to within one game of their first solo championship since 2000.  (The 2004 FSL title was split between Daytona and Tampa after Hurricane Ivan cancelled the championship series.)  Jackson threw 5.2 shutout innings and allowed only four hits.  Jackson struck out five and didn't walk a batter in what was probably his last appearance in his first professional season.

Every Cub in the starting lineup had at least one hit. 

DH Blake Lalli blew the game open in the third with a two-run home run that capped off a five-run inning.  Lalli was 2 for 3 before being removed in the seventh inning.

The other big bat of the night belonged to right fielder Ryan Harvey.  Harvey went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple.  Harvey scored twice and was also hit by a pitch.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI.  His double-play partner, shortstop Darwin Barney, went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 5.  He did have two passed balls, however.

Jody Davis' boys now return to Daytona Beach needing to win only one more game to take the Florida State League Championship.  They will play game three tomorrow night at Jackie Robinson Stadium at 7:05.  Games four and five, if necessary, will also be home games for Daytona.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs failed to end the series tonight as they fell to the Oklahoma RedHawks, 9-6 evening the series at two games a piece.

Jason Stanford started and got battered around pretty good.  He allowed six runs on five hits in only three innings.  He had some control problems, as he walked five Oklahoma batters and only struck out one.

Rocky Roquet was strong in relief.  He threw three shutout innings, allowing only two hits.  Roquet didn't walk a batter and struck out four.

Jose Ascanio wasn't impressive, as he allowed two runs in an inning of relief.

Both first baseman Jason Dubois and DH Jake Fox were 2 for 5 with a double.

Right fielder Josh Kroeger was 3 for 5 with a stolen base.  Left fielder Andres Torres went 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.  Torres scored once and had one RBI.

I've changed my mind about Bobby Scales.  Call him up.  Scales was 1 for 4 with a home run and four RBI.  Scales' home run was a three-run homer in the first inning.  I know he's not on the 40-man, but it's a shame this guy has never even once gotten to play in a major league game.  I'm not saying he has to play much, but get him on the pension, folks.

The best-of-five series will be decided tomorrow with a game at 2:05 Central in Oklahoma City.

Daytona Cubs

Jody Davis' D-Cubs took a one game to none lead in their best-of-five series with a 5-1 thrashing of the Ft. Myers Miracle.

Starter Casey Coleman kept the game close by allowing only one run over five innings.  Coleman surrendered four hits, walked three and struck out only one.  The Miracle run scored on a solo home run.

Jordan Latham got the win with two shutout innings of relief.  He allowed only one hit and one walk.  He struck out one.

Both Jayson Ruhlman and Brian Schlitter also pitched an inning without allowing a run.  Schlitter struck out the side in the ninth, although he did allow one hit.

Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Catcher Steve Clevenger was also 2 for 4 and scored once.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 1 for 4 with a triple and two RBI.  The triple was Daytona's only extra-base hit.

Center fielder Jim Adducci had a 2 for 3 night with two walks and a stolen base.  Also, I missed this earlier, but Adducci was named to the end-of-the-season Florida State League All-Star Team.  Adducci was the only D-Cub so honored.

Game two is tomorrow night at 7:05 Eastern at Ft. Myers.

CUBS WIN!  CUBS WIN! 

Go, Cubs Go!  Go Cubs Go!  Hey Des Moines and Daytona Beach, whaddya say?  The Cubs are going to win today.

Ah, who am I kidding?  I'm not cheering up anyone tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Cubs rode some dominating pitching to 2-1 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks.

Starter Mitch Atkins completely quieted the RedHawks batters tonight.  Over seven  shutout innings, Atkins allowed only four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Hector Carrasco got the save when he came in the eighth inning and got the third out after Justin Berg had walked two batters.  Carrasco then gave up an unearned run in the ninth inning when shortstop Andres Blanco flubbed a ground ball with two out.  But then Carrasco struck out the final batter to end the game.  Carrasco didn't allow a hit and walked one in 1.1 innings.  He struck out two, but also had two wild pitches.

Second baseman Bobby Scales knocked in both I-Cubs runs tonight.  Scales was 2 for 3 with a double.

Center fielder Andres Torres scored both I-Cubs runs.  Torres had a 2 for 5 night with a stolen base.

Shortstop Andres Blanco and third baseman Luis Figueroa were both 2 for 4.

Tomorrow night, the I-Cubs will try to end this best of five series with a game in Oklahoma City.  Like before, all games are available for viewing for free at milb.com.

Daytona Cubs

Congratulations to Jody Davis and the Daytona Cubs, as they shut out the Palm Beach Cardinals, 6-0 to win the best-of-three series, two games to one.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of the Cub farm system this season is Hung-Wen Chen and tonight, he pitched the D-Cubs into the FSL Championship series.  Chen threw six shutout innings, allowing only three hits.  He actually had a perfect game going through four innings.  Chen showed his typical great control, as he didn't walk a batter either.  Chen struck out three.

Mike Cooper allowed two hits over two innings and Blake Parker pitched a perfect ninth inning.

DH Blake Lalli had a 3 for 5 night with two doubles and an RBI.  Center fielder Jim Adducci also had two doubles in a 2 for 5 effort.  Adducci scored twice and knocked two in. 

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.  Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4.

The Daytona Cubs travel to Ft. Myers tomorrow to take on the Miracle in the best-of-five Florida State League Championship Series.

Well, I don't have any good news to report tonight, except that neither series is over.  But everyone should be in a better mood after yet another Brewers loss.

Seriously.  It's to be expected that both the Cubs and the Brewers would cool off and have a slump at some point.  But who would have thought they'd do it at the same time?

Iowa Cubs

A fielder error by shortstop Andres Blanco led to five unearned runs in the second inning and the I-Cubs lost to the Oklahoma RedHawks, 6-2.

Starter J. R. Mathes allowed all six runs over five innings of work. Five of the runs were unearned due to the Blanco error.  Mathes gave up six hits.  He walked three and struck out four.

I watched the first half of this game on milb.tv and this is a perfect example of why you shouldn't put too much stock in ERA and especially not with minor leaguers.  Mathes got battered like a piñata at a kid's birthday party in the second inning, but because it all happened after two were out following the Blanco error, none of those five runs were earned.  But believe me, Mathes earned those runs.

Right fielder Josh Kroeger was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.  First baseman Jason Dubois went 2 for 3 with a walk.  Andres Blanco did have a good day with the bat, as he was 2 for 4 and scored a run.

The best-of-five series is now tied at a game a piece and continues tomorrow night in Oklahoma City.

Daytona Cubs

After being down 5-0, a late comeback by the D-Cubs fell short as they lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 5-4.

Once again, it was unearned runs that did in the D-Cubs tonight.  Starter Marcos Mateo allowed five runs, four of which were unearned because of an error in the fourth inning by third baseman Jonathan Mota.   Mateo allowed six hits.  He walked two and struck out two.

If you're looking for good news, first-round pick Andrew Cashner relieved Mateo in the fourth inning and threw 3.2 innings without allowing a hit.  Of the eight outs he recorded, seven were by strikeout.  Cashner did, however, mix in three walks in that stretch of dominating pitching.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  He also scored once.

After being down 5-0 at one point, the D-Cubs scored two in the ninth to get within a run.  The tying run was on first with two outs when first baseman Russ Canzler came to the plate.  Unfortunately, Canzler struck out.  He was 1 for 4 with a walk in the game, though.

Amid charges of hippodroming the past two games, this three-game playoff series will be decided tomorrow night in Palm Beach.  The winner will take on the Minnesota Twins affiliate, the Ft. Myers Miracle, in the Florida State League Championship.

I was just joking about the hippodroming charges.  No one's accused anyone of hippodroming.  It's just such a great word and you don't get a chance to use it much.

I don't know if it's going to make anyone feel any better, but I've got a lot of good news tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs scored eight runs in the sixth inning to crush the Oklahoma RedHawks, 10-3 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Starter Randy Wells was the beneficiary of this offensive explosion and picked up the win.  Wells went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits.  He walked one RedHawk and struck out six.

Rocky Roquet threw a scoreless ninth inning in his first appearance in AAA.  Roquet didn't allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.

First baseman Jason Dubois homered in the eight-run sixth with a man on.  Dubois was 3 for 5 on the night with two doubles and that home run.  He knocked in three runs.

Shortstop Luis Figueroa was 4 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. 

Second baseman Bobby Scales returned to the lineup to go 3 for 4 with two doubles and a walk.  Scales had one RBI and scored twice.  His leadoff walk in the sixth got the inning started.

And just as a personal comment, how in the world has Bobby Scales never gotten a chance to play in the major leagues?  I'm not advocating we call him up, because he's thirty years old now and we're already set at second base.  But he's had a pretty solid minor league career and is certainly a better player than guys currently sitting on minor league benches.  He's a major reason why the I-Cubs finished with the best record in the PCL.  I'm not saying he would have been a star had someone given him a chance.  But for him to never even gotten a major league at-bat? I don't get it.  It's not as if he's a jerk, either, as the I-Cubs gave him their year-end community service award.

I'm sure Bobby's happy someone is sticking up for him.  Just another reason to hate the Padres, I guess.

The I-Cubs and RedHawks meet again tomorrow night at 6:35 central in Principal Park in Des Moines for game two of the series.  All games can be watched for free at Milb.com.

Daytona Cubs

The I-Cubs had an eight-run sixth?  Then how about a six-run eighth? That's exactly what Daytona did tonight to come from behind to beat the palm Beach Cardinals, 10-9.

James Russell got the start in the second attempt at game one tonight.  Russell kept Daytona in the game and allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. Russell struck out five and walked only one.

The bullpen, however, was a disaster.  Todd Blackford gave up two runs without recording an out.  Jayson Ruhlman allowed two runs in 1.2 innings.  Blake Parker, who got the win, allowed one run in a third of an inning, which included a bases-clearing bases-loaded double that allowed two inherited runners to score.  Mike Cooper gave up a run in 1.2 innings.  Only Brian Schlitter, who picked up the save, managed to escape with out allowing a run, and Schlitter only faced two batters and waked one of them.

But the Daytona offense made none of that matter.  Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit, and three of them had three. 

Where to start?  Shortstop Darwin Barney went 3 for 4, scoring twice and getting one ribbie.  First baseman Russ Canzler hit the D-Cubs' only home run and went 2 for 5 on the night.  Canzler had two RBI total.  The homer was a solo shot in the ninth. 

Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 3 for 5 with a double.  Mota crossed the plate twice.  Catcher Steve Clevenger had a 3 for 5 night as well.

Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.  Center fielder Jim Adducci was also 2 for 4 and he had two RBI.

The Daytona Cubs and Palm Beach Cardinals continue their best-of-three series tomorrow night at Jackie Robinson Park in Daytona.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks ended their season tonight with a 3-1 loss to the Spokane Indians.

Chris Carpenter got the final start of the year and picked up the loss.  He gave up three unearned runs on three hits and three walks over 3.1 innings.  The good news was that Carpenter struck out seven, including recording the first six outs by strikeout.  He only allowed one walk in those first two innings as well.

Luke Sommer threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief and Mike Perconte was unscored upon in two innings.

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 4 with a double and left fielder Drew Rundle was 2 for 3 with the Hawks lone RBI.

It was a pretty successful season for the Hawks as they finished the year at 43-33, which was the second-best record in the Northwest League.  Unfortunately, they play in the same division as Spokane who went 51-25, so Boise did not make the playoffs.

Everyone is in a bad mood tonight, so let's all take it easy on each other, OK?

Tonight's an easy night for me.  I'm going to keep it simple.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona got real lucky tonight, as they were losing the first game of the Florida State League playoffs to the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-0 in the fifth inning when the rains came.  The game was washed out and will be replayed from the beginning tomorrow in Palm Beach.  Daytona will get a home game on Thursday instead.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians, 6-4.

James Leverton got the start and threw 4.1 innings.  He allowed four runs, three of which were earned runs, on five hits.  He only walked one and struck out seven.  He had two wild pitches.

Manolin DeLeon got the loss by allowing one run over 1.2 innings of relief.  He also allowed one runner inherited from Leverton to score.  DeLeon gave up four hits and struck out one.

Second baseman David Macias was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.  DH Michael Brenly went 2 for 4.

Iowa starts its playoff series with Oklahoma tomorrow.  Every other minor league team's season is over.

It's the end of the regular season today for everyone except Boise, who is just playing out the string in Spokane this week.  Of course, the I-Cubs and D-Cubs made their leagues' post-season tournaments.

Oh, and guess which member of the Cubs broadcast team is going to be insufferably proud tomorrow?  Hint:  It's not Len Kasper.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs got blasted by the Omaha Royals, 13-8.

Starter Jason Stanford got battered for eight runs over 5.1 innings.  He gave up 12 hits, walked two and struck out three.  Two of the eight runs allowed by Stanford were unearned. 

Right fielder Josh Kroeger went 2 for 5 with two doubles.  Kroeger scored once and knocked two in.

Jason Dubois hit his 25th home run for Iowa in only 238 at-bats.  It was a three-run home run in the first inning.  Dubois was 1 for 5 total on the day, with four RBI and two runs scored.

Wellington Castillo got promoted to replace Koyie Hill and was 1 for 5 with an RBI.

The I-Cubs finished the regular season with a record of 83-59, which was the best record in the Pacific Coast League.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies season ended on a sour note with a 7-4 loss to the Carolina Mudcats.

Starter Mark Holliman allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings.  Holliman walked four Mudcats and struck out eight.

Dumas Garcia took the loss.  He got knocked around for three runs over 1.1 innings of work.

Shortstop Matt Camp finished the season on a hot streak, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and his 23rd stolen base of the season. Camp hit .342 in his final ten games.  Third baseman Kyle Reynolds was 2 for 4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.

The Smokies finished the season at 62-77.  They were an atrocious 27-43 in the first half and a respectable 35-34 in the second half.

Daytona Cubs

Host Palm Beach tomorrow in the first game of the FSL Playoffs.

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